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Abacus's Flight Simulator WWII Try-Buy Aircraft
By Pete Waddell

So...what to make of this offering from Abacus?

All of these aircraft flight models are well-designed with historical considerations and real life accuracy. For example, the Me262 was difficult to get going at full speed. Their Jumo engines where prone to flare out and fail if the throttle was advanced too quickly, and stalled easily. The Abacus Me262 took a while to get up to a fighting speed (around 450 mph).

All aircraft have moving parts such as control surfaces and some of the cockpit canopies open when you put the flaps down. The gear go up at realistic angles and speed, they don’t just disappear like many CFS aircraft. These are some of the most impressive effects I have seen on any Microsoft Simulator aircraft.

Spitfire Cockpit

The Spitfire, however, is a bit of an exception: I found that it seems not to measure up to the other aircraft. The Spit is a legend and well-known in its flight envelope, depending on the Mark number. I found the Mark IX lacking compared to the boxed version in CFS, but for those of you who only have Flight Simulator, the Try-Buy option is a safe bet.

The Spitfire from the outside

I noticed the Corsair, seemed a bit fast, 400 MPH while climbing at 1000-2000 FPM: that seems a bit excessive, according to pilot reports I have read. 400 MPH may have been possible at 20-30 feet, but not at 3,500 (Interlaken). It seems to be one heck of a plane, but pilots need to use their aircraft’s strengths in tactics, and understand their weaknesses. Also as far as the Corsair goes, it seems a great plane and it had a huge kill ratio against the Japanese in the Pacific.

Corsair Viewed from the Outsite

One thing must be noted however re: the Zone. Abacus are the only aircraft considered to be as accurate as well as the default, that is a measure of the trust and respect people have in these planes, and I would say it is mostly well deserved.

The Corsair Cockpit

These aircraft are beautiful and considerably so within the parameters of the sim. I don’t think anybody would find much of a disadvantage nor advantage while flying these planes, but if you like to look at them from the outside and watch all the animated stuff going on, then maybe these are for you. Or, if you just want to look at them, to appreciate the fine workmanship then go for it.

In nothing else, if you buy them you will be encouraging Abacus to continue to develop high-quality and high-fidelity aircraft. With their seven-day trial, you can be the judge to decide if you wish to purchase their products, which is a fair and honest test-drive for the flight simulation enthusiast.

Pete Waddell

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